The Patriot roster moves ahead of Sunday's game vs. the Dolphins at Gillette Stadium are both good and bad news for the home team.
Starting with the good news, New England has activated WR Kendrick Bourne (knee, PUP) and S Marte Mapu (calf, IR) from the reserve lists, clearing the way for them to make their season debuts on Sunday. The Patriots also signed DT Jaquelin Roy to the 53-man roster and elevated C Bryan Hudson and LB Ochaun Mathis from the practice squad. As for the bad news, S Jabrill Peppers (shoulder) was downgraded to out. The Pats could be down their starting safeties, as S Kyle Dugger (ankle) is questionable after missing practice this week.
Bourne will return to action after suffering a season-ending torn ACL against the Dolphins last October. Before the injury, the 29-year-old receiver was on pace for a career year in 2023. Bourne had 37 catches for 406 yards and four touchdowns in eight games last season. If you pace that out over a full 17-game season, Bourne's numbers would've been 78 catches for 864 yards and eight touchdowns — all career highs.
Furthermore, Bourne ranked 14th among 134 receivers in ESPN's wide receiver score metric. Bourne will likely take snaps from wideouts KJ Osborn and Tyquan Thornton, who have just seven catches for 27 yards through four games. Bourne will provide a boost for a Pats passing game that ranks last in the NFL with 112.3 yards per game. Assuming he's a full go, Bourne will likely play alongside rookie WR Ja'Lynn Polk and second-year wideout DeMario Douglas.
Along the offensive line, there are still several injury question marks. After placing starting C David Andrews (shoulder) on injured reserve, Andrews's projected replacement, Nick Leverett, is questionable due to an ankle injury. The Patriots elevated third-string C Bryan Hudson from the practice squad as injury insurance, but the hope is that Leverett will be at the pivot position on Sunday.
The injuries along the offensive line don't stop there: guards Michael Jordan (ankle) and Layden Robinson (ankle/wrist) are also questionable, as is T Vederian Lowe (knee). Based on media access at practice this week, Jordan and Lowe could return, with Lowe telling reporters he hopes to play. We'd guess the offensive line will be LT Lowe, LG Jordan, C Leverett, RG Sow/Robinson, and RT Onwenu.
Moving over to defense, New England's secondary will be shorthanded without Peppers and potentially Dugger. Mapu being activated should help, as he can play the box/nickel role that the Pats starting safety tandem typically handles. The Patriots also have safeties Jaylinn Hawkins, Dell Pettus, Isaiah Bolden (slot), and special teams ace Brenden Schooler, who could play safety in a pinch. From this perspective, the likely safety combination for New England is Hawkins at free safety, Mapu or Pettus as the box/strong safeties, and Bolden could possibly play in the slot.
On the defensive line, Roy and Mathis were likely added to the roster to bolster the run defense and the defense's ability to set the edge. Roy is best known for his ability to fire into blocks and create separation with a powerful upper body, which bodes well in New England's two-gapping system. With OLB Anfernee Jennings (shoulder) remaining on the injury report, the Pats have struggled to set the edge and keep quarterbacks in the pocket. Mathis gives them another edge-setting option against an offense that wan't to run outside the tackles.
On paper, this is a difficult matchup to be down your starting safeties vs. Miami's explosive passing offense. The Patriots will have to keep the top on the defense, something they struggled with last week, against Dolphins wide receiver duo Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, arguably the fastest receiver tandem in the NFL. Miami also activated WR Odell Beckham Jr. from injured reserve, so he'll also be in the mix.
Although it's a loaded group of receivers, the Patriots catch a break with third-string QB Tyler Huntley getting the start for the Dolphins. The Pats will play against Huntley rather than Dolphins starter Tua Tagovailoa (concussion) and top backup Skylar Thompson (ribs). The Tua-less Dolphins currently rank last in points (11.3) and 23rd in passing yards (187.3) through four games.
The Patriots are one-point home favorites over the banged-up Dolphins on Sunday. Although the visitors don't have their starting quarterback, New England is shorthanded as well. Although he doesn't cure all that ails them, Bourne returning to the lineup should bring some juice to the offense, and Mapu helps lessen the blow from Peppers and possibly Dugger being inactive.
The Patriots will host the Dolphins at Gillette Stadium with kickoff at 1:00 pm ET on Sunday.
DISCLAIMER: The views and thoughts expressed in this article are those of the writer and don't necessarily reflect those of the organization. Read Full Disclaimer
